Kasese land dispute victim numbers camped at RDC office rise to over 2,000

KASESE - The number of people peacefully demonstrating in Kasese district over the delayed resolutions to ongoing land disputes has surged to 2,500 within 10 days. 

The demonstrators, primarily crop farmers from various villages across at least seven lower local governments, have camped outside the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) to express their dissatisfaction and demand government intervention to resolve the matter.

A lot of land in the sub-counties of Kitswamba, Karusandara Nyakiyumbu, Nyakatonzi and Muhokya, as well as Kasese municipality divisions: Central and Nyamwamba, has been a source of conflict for years. These disputes have resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries.

Speaking to New Vision Online on June 3, 2025, at Boma Grounds in Kasese municipality, Grace Biira, the chairperson of the Inter-Coalition of Land Victims, said the conflicts over these lands have persisted for over 17 years. She accused pastoralists of encroachment, leading to violent confrontations that allegedly often result in deaths and injuries.

Biira criticised the Government for resettling pastoralists without considering the interests of crop farmers. 

She called for clear boundary demarcation to establish rightful land ownership and prevent encroachment, including animals destroying crops. 

"Season in, season out, our crops are destroyed, and this is how we have become impoverished," she lamented.

She expressed disappointment with the district leadership, particularly the RDC’s office and top officials from the lands ministry, accusing them of failing to address the issue adequately and offering only empty promises each year. 

"Unfortunately, we have missed out on different government programmes, including the recent Parish Development Model (PDM), because we are considered landless," Biira added.

Life at the new camp

Grace described feeling treated unfairly, as though they were not Ugandans. She noted that only a few leaders have reached out with words of comfort while others watch indifferently as the displaced people currently camped at the RDC's office struggle for necessities like food, shelter, and medicine.

The fate of schoolchildren

While most schools in the country resumed learning activities for the second term on May 26, 2025, children of the displaced families dwelling in the temporary internally displaced persons (IDP) camp at Boma Grounds remain hopeless. 

According to Biira, their parents cannot afford scholastic materials amidst their dire circumstances. She appealed to leaders to intervene promptly to prevent potential repercussions from children remaining idle in the camp.  

District council meeting

As a response, Kasese district LC5 chairperson Eliphazi Muhindi Bukombi convened an emergency council meeting on May 27 to address the land disputes. 

During the deliberation, Biira reiterated that the group decided to camp at the RDC’s office to avoid continuous conflicts with pastoralists and to make the Government aware of the urgent need to resolve the issue conclusively. 

Council members speak out

Rita Biira, the district woman councillor representing Kisinga town council and Kisinga sub-county, suggested allocating part of Mubuku Forest Reserve in Mubuku town council to those encamped at the RDC’s office and Muhokya IDP camp as a possible solution to the land disputes.

Ham Natuhwera, District Councilor representing Nyakatonzi and Bernard Masereka for Ibanda-Kyanya TC, explained that securing new land would be costly for the Kasese district local government. 

They argued that the issue was beyond their mandate and called for immediate central government intervention. 

"Land matters have caused significant tension in the district, and as leaders, we cannot afford to watch people continue fighting each other," Ham said.

However, Kasese district council speaker Johnson Mayora resolved with guidance and support from all members to form a delegation to meet President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House regarding the land disputes, given the urgency of the matter and the prolonged inability of concerned authorities to provide a lasting solution.

Kasese CAO and RDC respond

Kasese District Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Eriab Begumya Ntarwete told the council that the President’s Office had already sent a letter promising to address the issue.

On several occasions, affected residents at the RDC’s office and some leaders have accused Kasese RDC Lt. Joe Walusimbi of failing to expedite the resolution of the land disputes, including providing inadequate security during boundary re-opening processes.

However, Walusimbi refuted these allegations, confirming his commitment to resolving the land issues. 

"Their biggest problem is thinking that land matters can be settled in one day, which is not correct because such issues exist everywhere in the country," he stated.